Thought processes and conversations started under the tilted cap of Tropicana Field. Someday everyone will know the Rays play in St. Petersburg, Florida, not TAMPA, or the fictitious city of TAMPA BAY.

I am Glad the Rays passed on the Milton Bradley Game

When the news hit the Internet sites that the Chicago Cubs had seen enough of the explosive verbal game playing by Milton Bradley, the disgruntled outfielder, not the gamesman, the beseiged franchise actually was giving the Tampa Bay Rays a bold High five of confidence without even knowing it. Think about this for a moment, Bradley had come into Tampa Bay several times during the 2008 off season looking for a deal to DH for this team, and the Rays at some point, might have been heavily salivating before turning their sights towards a more calm scenario by selecting ex-Phillie Pat Burrell.

In what was considered a huge signing for the Cubs for 3-years and $30 million, might have actually been a push-to-the-side by the Rays because of something their top brass,scouts, West Indies voodoo doctors or even their psychic friends network connections might have witnessed in the aging and sometimes volcanic Bradley. I can now say without a hint of remorse, this non-signing might be the biggest vote of fan confidence I can give the Rays front office since Stu and the crew have taken over. It was a visual dismissal of maybe again going through the notions of purging team demons and shows they want to utterly dismiss all things negative to their brand of baseball.

Bradley unfortunately would have come to the Rays with a van full of baggage, and maybe the Rays saw beyond the unfield contributions to the possible PR disaster that prevailed amongst the assembled stacks of steamer trunks and carry on bags to see that the stable environment of the 2008 Rays clubhouse might not be able to endure a extroverted maniac like Bradley and not implode upon itself. And for that, I applaud the Rays 3rd Floor gurus.

It must have been so tempting to take a chance on a guy who had the highest OPS in the American League last season with the Rangers. For that would be a huge upgrade in possible offensive outbursts for the team, but maybe the unpredictable outbursts of another nature put a huge red stop sign in their eye sights before extending an olive branch or contract to Bradley. But you have to wonder why the Texas team did not come out openly and entice teams to take on Bradley? Why were their not teammates and former coaches anxious to voice approval or even dismay over a team taking a pass on this guy?

Could there have been a non verbal sign to other teams to take a step back and take a through psychological imprint of their team and see if one crazy piece would turn them spiraling towards the division cellar. Of course the Cubs seemed to have been the best scenario for Bradley. He was going to a team on the verge, and who had a high profile stickler for individual responsibility in their present Manager, Lou Piniella. It seemed like Piniella would be the perfect man to rein in Bradley when he went a bit, well ‘psycho”.

But this is not your older brother Piniella, his fight is still there, but has been dampened by the years. Not that the cooling properties of Aquafina had taken the fight out of him, but time had worn him down a bit, and he was not the same guy now. And that might have been a huge factor in Bradley even getting beyond just the ranting and raving stage. Piniella might have let him dig his own grave, and in retrospect, it might have taken his Cubs team down in the process.

Negative energy in a clubhouse can ruin even a bright sunny day in Wrigley Field. My grandmother had a saying, “It only take one grumpy soul to turn a room of bright sunshine smiling people into a solemn, miserable lot”. Bradley might have done his worst damage to those arounf him, and not to just his own career. And because of that, Bradley was a Category 5 Hurricane stuffed into a small wooden box. You knew he was going to get out of that well made box, but you hoped to contain the damage to a small area, then retract him again within the confines a bigger wooden or steel box to calm down and again become more human.

But why didn’t the Cubs see this internal fire and demon storm churing out of control themselves? The signs were all around them, but they chose or either ignore them or look the other way and just overly insure themselves. Did the Rays have a body language professional or a psycho analyst hidden in on the teams discussions with Bradley and they watched him closely for signs of anxiousness, volitile moments, or even a sense of uneasiness sitting in that big leather chair? Maybe it was just a simple gut reaction or feeling that doomed the “Bradley Experiment” from ever darkening the Rays clubhouse doors.

What could have been the determinating factor that pushed him out of the Rays mindset and onto the Cubs? Whatever that pencil thin item or viewpoint was, thank goodness we saw it before we got pen to paper and had him sign with the Rays and be witness in our front row seat to his emotional and mential implosion in front of our very eyes. Believe me, if he had come here and treated the Rays rightfield fans the way he scolded and admonished his Cubbie faithful, then I pity the franchise when the would read the venom I would have spewed amongst this page.

Maybe it was something as simple as a bad handshake. You know the type, felt more like a wet fish getting slapped into the palm of your hand than a powerhitter looking for a job. Maybe he didn’t look the Rays in the eyes while talking to them,or maybe he got a tad upset because there was no half and half for the coffee? Whatever it was, thank goodness we did not have to endure,speculate or even experience the enduring nightmare the Cub fans and his teammates have seen in the last few months. It is said to see a talent waste away in the petty and obsurd innder world they create for themselves.

But also in this case, it is a bed he set, made and purchased all his own. Right now he might be his own worst enemy and is catching up to imfamous Steve Bartman as a hated figure in Cubbie folklore. So Bradley has been sent home from playing the game he “supposibly” loves, but doesn’t respect anymore. Hopefully the loss of time from his favorite game, and the revenue it creates for him will shake his fragile foundation and he can again find a neutralizing center for which to build upon. If not, a team desperate for a power hitter will bite again on his services, but that squad might have a contract laden with out clauses in case his act again surfaces and starts to divide and conquer another team.

Milton Bradley has given a lot to this game during his career. But it is what he has also taken and destroyed in it that will be remembered most by the fans of baseball. So the Rays dodged a huge bullet by instead staying with the coll, calm demeanor of Burrell in their DH spot. Burrell is beginning to heat up a bit, but the volitile nature and the negative energy doesn’t flow from him like it does with every word from Bradleys mouth right now. Bradley can still repair his career and go on to do things that will make people forget this episode. But the Rays door will not be open to him, and for once, that is a good thing.

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14 Comments

The whole Milton Bradley story is very sad. He actually went to my hgh school. As a Dodger he was always getting into trouble. He has talent but his behavior is regrettable. We got Andre Ethier from the A’s in exchange we gave them Bradley. That was probably one of the best deals that Coletti made! Hope that Bradley works it out.http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com

Cat,
I agree, I hope the guy gets it figured out before he gets labeled a habitual troublemaker and then has to accept low ball offers and contracts laden with “Incident” or “Problem” clauses that would void out his money train.
Worst thing is the Cubs still owe him over $ 21 million, and they might have to pay someone to even take him off their hands.
There have always been guys who rock the boat a bit in baseball, but Bradley in the last few seasons has made a career out if it, and it might have finally caught up to him.
There are a lot of talented hitters around the MLB, and if Bradley is not careful, he will be paying to watch a game soon instead of playing on that field of green.

Buz,
That trade might go down in history as the best one for the Dodgers in a long time.
Both men can play the game, but to get rid of a guy who was beginning to effect your clubhouse in a negative way, and bring in a young gun who now is one of the positives in the Dodgers clubhouse is a sure win for Big Blue.

Rays,
When The Dodgers first got Bradley I really had high hopes that he would amend his ways and behave seeing as he is a local guy and rooted for the Dodgers but he did not. Ethier was a prospect back then in the A’s minor league. Dodgers sent Bradley and Antonio Perez. Not sure what ever happened to Antonio Perez.
Good job on the Rays passing up on Bradley. You know he has talent but like you said, he is his worst enemy.
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

Cliff – teams have to balance talent vs what affect the player will have on the rest of the team. That is why I was one Red Sox fan who did not shed a tear over the team trading Manny. Sometimes you have to cut off an arm to save a life.

Your surely got the bettter end of it “not” getting Milton Bradley. I know you ended up getting Burrell but Bradley would’ve sent the team in a downward spiral! ;-) Great post, I look for awesome ones in the future.

Emma,
People like Bradley in real life are the ones we shake our heads at while watching the nightly television news and wonder why they got that way.
But in sports, some times they fall throught ehc racks until they can not be ignored any longer.
Maybe he putsa too much pressure on himself, maybe he just doesn’t like social situations. Maybe he simply has a screw loose..But no matter what, we still want to see him play….figure that one out!

Jane,
Another name that comes to mind when you think daisyies in a minefield is Gary Sheffield.
Even though most of his rap came from when he was younger, in the last few seasons you have seen him mellow a bit. Dimitri Young is another one. The Rays picked him in their Expansion Draft and shipped him off to Cincy as fast as they could get a trading partner.
Every sports has their “bad karma” guys, but in baseball unlike football, you see them for 162 games.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought Piniella had lost a bit of his edge. Aquafina or not, the Piniella of 6-10 years ago would not have taken this vitriol too long without blowing up. Who knows? Maybe he did and we just don’t know about it though unlikely. I’m sure every team in the land is glad that they didn’t take the Bradley bait. Question is: who will next year? If anyone…
–Jeffhttp://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/

Julia,
The episode where Manny pushed down the Traveling Secretary for me spelled his road out of Boston with haste.
It is one thing to be “eccentric” and out-going, but another to be so self-absorbed you injure a innocient person with actions or words.
And for that reason Manny went Westbound. It made Boston regroup itself, but it worked in a postivie way for the team.
Funny, it might end up being a “win-win” for both teams this season.

Ted,
By actually getting “none” of Bradley, we scored big time.
But like I mentioned before, the cost of getting him out of Chi-town might cost the new owners of the Cubs a bit of change.
You hope the guy can do a 180 and repair the damage, but it might be too late for him in Cubs pinstripes.
Now you have to shop him around and hope you cna ta least get some talent in return.
I might take a look at all the guys traded for Bradley over his career, and we might find some great pick-ups for other clubs.

Jeff,
I remember Piniella here in Tampa Bay kicking his cap farther than most of the Bucs placekickers one time when he was ejected.
He still has passion for the game, but some days it just seems he is mailing it in right now.
And that is sad for Chicago fans. This guy has a great baseball mind, and he might have lost an edge with his old attitude finally mellowing out a bit.
He will still get angry and ejected, but it will not be the same “Lou”.
Funny both “Managers of the Year” last season are going to be watching on TV this Fall as teams take the field for the playoffs……..life is truly weird sometimes.

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